A HUSBAND and wife have been jailed for nine months for making a false rape allegation in Maldon.

Mark Noble, 45, and wife Elaine, 43, of Mundon Road, Maldon, were charged with perverting the course of justice after she claimed she had been raped in the town on October 17 last year.

An 18-year-old man from the town was arrested but was released without any charge 10 days later.

Mark and Elaine Noble, who were arrested on November 13 and subsequently charged, were jailed yesterday at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Investigating officer, Dc Alison Cotter said: “These two people have carried out a gross disservice to every genuine victim of a sexual offence. An innocent suspect was arrested and had to go through the ordeal of being held in custody and undergoing a medical examination that is intrusive and personal.”